Animated toy



I Oct. 25, 1938. w. D. FENTRESS 2,134,079

ANIMATED TOY Fil ed Sept. 22, 1957 rwanm A, WILLIAM 1). FE'NTRESS,

WOW/8% Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED sTATE PATE T OFFICE" 1 ANIMATED TorWilliam D. r nt uassmnvuie, Ohio Application Sepiember can, Serial No.165,168

body formed to simulate the appearance of animate object, together withan animating element attached thereto and having inherent powers oflocomotion adapted to give the body automatic, spasmodic movement.

' Another object is to provide a toy having an animating element withinherent powers of locomotion, and capable of automatic, spasmodicmovement, this animating element having supporting members, such aslegs, attached thereto soas to give the appearance or an animate object,such, as an insect or animal having legs.

"Another object is to provide an animated toy having a body formedto:represent the external appearance of an animate object, a cavitybeing provided in this body toreceive an animating elementfihaving.inherent powers .of locomotion for automatically and spasmodicallymoving the body, such an animating element being represented by thearticle known as aMexican jumping bean. I i

Another object isto provide ananimated toy consisting of a body adaptedto rest upon a table, or othersupporting surface, this body having acavity for the reception of a Mexican dumping bean, the body beingformed to simulate the appearance of an animate object, such'asananimal, in bird, insect, fish or reptile, the portion of-the bodyresting upon the supporting surfaoebeing formed to minimize the frictionexisting there between and to facilitate the motion of the body over thesupporting surface. I

In the drawing: I, Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of myinvention,showing a spider formed by attaching supports, suchas legs, toananimating element; such as a Mexican jumping bean. Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the toy shown in Figurei. a g

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the toy shown in Figure 1. v

V Figure 4 is a top plan view of a modification,

to provide the necessary support and lightness of weight. a In theoperation of the toy shown in Figures -1-to 3, the toy is placedupon asmooth surface, preferably one of glass or polished stone, and 55.wherein the animating element is mountodwithin a body formed tosimulate a beetle. i

Figure 5 is a side elevation of another jm'odiii cation 01 theinvention, showing a body in the form of a prehistoric reptile, such asa dinosaur. 5'

Fi8ure6 is a, sideeie'vationofanother modiflv cation, the body beingformed to represent a set} .ting hen,.or other bird.

Figure 7 is aside elevation of anotherfm'odiflc'ation, the bodybeingformed to represent a frog. in

Figure 8, is a side elevation of a furtherni'odi-' flcation, the bodybein -fgqrmed; to' represent a In general, the animated toy oithisinvention consists of ananimating element, ,suchas a Mex- '6 loanJumping bean, having inherent powers ,of.

locomotion for automatic, spasmodic movement, to-whichis attached asupport adapted to rest upon the surface upon which thetoyis tomove.This support mayconsist either of legs attached directly to theanimating element, o'rto a member secured thereto, or itmay consist of abody formed to simulate the body of reptile, bird or flsh, with theanimating element inside this body. The. body may rest directly 5 uponthe table top, or other surface 'upon which it is to move, or it may beprovided with legs.

. Preferably, the body or legs' are given. a form adapted to minimizethe friction so as toi.fa-' cilitate the movement of the toyfover thetablev top or other surface. I

Referring to the drawing in ,detaiL'Figure 1 shows one embodiment of theanimated toy of this invention. This embodiment consists of an animatingelement it, such as aIMexicanjumping bean, formed with holes H. Mountedin these holes H are supporting elements l2, made to'represent the legsof an insect, such asa spider. The tips of these supporting elements I!are'preferably rounded, .as at i3, or otherwise 40 treated tov minimizefriction andjacilitate, the

movement of the; toy across the table-top, or

other surface upon which it is intended to move.

The notch Ii, shown in the l'owerside of the animating element i0, is anatural depression 5 found in Mexican jumping beans, the lowersides I4and 15 being beveled relatively to each other and meeting along a ridgel6. The legs I! may be formed ,of wire, synthetic plastics, glass orother suitable material adapted preferably in the sunshine, or near someother source of warmth. As the animating element;

' The body 20 is formed to represent an insect, and

is preferably of papier-mach, Cellophane or other light material. Acavity I4 is provided therein for receiving an animating element 25,which in this case likewise consists of a Mexican jumping bean. Theoperation of the modified toy of Figure 4 is similar to that of Figures1 to 3. As the jumping bean executes its spasmodic movement it impartsthis movement to the toy,

and the latter pursues an erratic path across the table-top or othersupporting surface. I

I The modified'toy shown' in Figure 5 consists of a body I. formed'torepresent a' prehistoric reptile, such as a dinosaur, and having ahead3! .and tail I2. The bottom surface 83 of the bodyj lis adaptedto restupon the table-top, and a cavity 34 is provided for-the reception of theanimating element". As before, this animating element is shown in theform of a Mexican jumping bean. The surface a is configured to causethe=toy to move freely 'over the tabletop inresponse 'to'the spasmodicJerking imparted to it by the animating element 38. It is not nec toprovide the toy with legs. and these mayor may notbe provided, at'theoptionofthemaker. p "Q The'modified toy shown in'I'igure B has a body 40formed to represent a setting hen, or other bird.. For this purpose itis provided with s head ,ll,'a tall 42 andwings ll. The botto surface 44of the toy is formed to rest direct upon the table top; although shortlegs may be provided if desired. .As beiore, a cavity II is providedwithin the body ll for the rece'ptionof a Mexican Jumping been, or anequivalent animating element. v

The modifiedtoyofl'i m'e'lhasabody -ll formed to represent a frog with ahead II and legs 52. The body,f.as before, is formed with a cavity "forthe reception ofa Mexican-jumpingbean or'other animating elementil'.

The modified toy shown'in Figure 8 consists of a body 00,formedtorepresent a turtle having to that described in connection withFigures 4 u and 5.

" It is advisable to employ a body material for the toy which isextremely light, and which can be folded, bent, molded or cut into thedesired form. Among materials while i havefound suitable for thispurpose are papier-mach, Cellophane, balsa wood or metal foil,particularly aluminum foil. Feathers may also be used for decorativepurposes.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my inventionsuch modifications as come within the scope of the claims and theinvention. v

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: v

1. An animated toy comprising .an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodicmovement,'and a plurality of supporting members connected to saidanimating element.

2. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shellinherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodicmovement, and a plurality of supporting members connected to saidanimating element, said members being formed to simulate legs. 1

'3. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of'automatic, spasmodicmovement, and a plurality of supporting members connected to saidanimating element, said, members being formed to simulate legs anddisposed inoutwardly radiatingposition relatively to said animatingelement.

directly to the shell of said animating element.

. '5. An animated'toy comprisingv an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodicmovement, a plurality of supporting membersconnected to said animatingelement, said members being formed to simulate legs, and anti-frictionmeans on the outer ends of said legs for minimizing the friction duringengagement of said legs withthe supporting surface.

6'.-An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodicmovement, and a pluralityof supportingzmembers connected to said 1animating element, said members being formed to simulate legs, the outerends of said legs being formed to minimize friction relatively to thesupporting surface.

7. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion 'capable of automatic,spasmodic movement, and aplurality of supporting members connected tosaid animating element, said members being formed to simulate legs, theouter ends of said legs being rounded to minimise friction relatively tothe supporting surface.

8. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodicmovement, and a body having a cavity therein for receiving saidanimating element, the contacting portion of the bottom surface of saidbody engageable with the supporting surface being formed with an areawhich is small in comparison with the total area of said bottom surfacewhereby to facilitate motion of said toy relatively to the supportingsur-' face.

9. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodicmovement,. and a body having a "cavity therein for receiving saidanimating element, the contacting portion of the bottom surface of saidbody engageable with the supporting surface being rounded with an areawhich is small in comparison with the total area of said bottomsurfacewhereby to facilitate motion of said toy relatively to thesupporting surface.

shell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherentpowers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, a bodyhaving a cavity therein for receiving said animating element, andsupporting members connected to said body and resting upon thesupporting surface.

l1. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic,spaamodicmovement, a body having a cavitytherein for receiving saidanimating element, and supporting members connected to said body andresting upon the supporting surface, the outer ends of said supportingmembers being formed to minimize the friction of engagement with saidsupporting surface.

12. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable 13. An animated toycomprising an animating element consisting of an insect within a naturalshell, said insect by its movements imparting to said shell inherentpowers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodic movement, saidanimat- 10. An animated toy comprising an animating element consistingof an insect within a naturalv ing element having a recess therein, anda supporting member secured in said recess.

14. An animated toy comprising an animating element consisting of aninsect within a natural shell, said insect by its movements imparting tosaid shell inherent powers of locomotion capable of automatic, spasmodicmovement, and a body having a cavity therein for receiving saidanimating element, said cavity being arranged adjacent the lower surfaceof said body whereby to position said animating element immediately inthe vicinity of the supporting surface.

WILLIAM'D. FENTRESS.

